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At Internal Doors, we have an extensive array of FD30 and 60 approved fire doors in a wide range of finishes and styles to match the interior design of any home

We understand choosing internal doors for your home can be difficult, stressful and time consuming which is why we’ve put together a small but simple guide to help you achieve a truly individual look.

When it comes to selecting doors for your home, one of the crucial decisions you'll face is choosing between pre-finished and unfinished options. Both types have their unique advantages and considerations, catering to different preferences, lifestyles, and design needs. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the key differences between pre-finished and unfinished doors, helping you make an informed decision for your home improvement project. Key Takeaways Feature Pre-Finished Doors Unfinished Doors Installation Time Quick and easy Requires additional finishing time Customisation Limited to available finishes Highly customisable Consistency Factory-applied, professional finish Varies based on DIY skills Initial Cost Generally higher Usually lower, but additional costs for finishing Maintenance Low maintenance May require periodic refinishing Pre-Finished Doors: The Convenient Choice Pre-finished doors are a popular option for homeowners seeking a hassle-free solution. These doors come ready to install, with a factory-applied finish that can include paint, varnish, or other protective coatings. Advantages of Pre-Finished Doors: Time-saving installation Consistent, professional finish Immediate use after installation Often more durable factory-applied finishes Wide range of colours and finishes available Disadvantages of Pre-Finished Doors: Limited customisation options Potentially higher upfront cost Difficult to change the finish later Popular Pre-Finished Door Options The Eton Pre-Finished Oak Door: Classic design with a rich oak finish The Seville Prefinished Oak Internal Door: Modern styling with clean lines The Amalfi Prefinished Oak Door: Contemporary look with horisontal grain When to Choose Pre-Finished Doors Pre-finished doors are an excellent choice if you: Need a quick and easy installation Want a consistent, professional look throughout your home Prefer low-maintenance options Are working on a time-sensitive renovation project Explore our range of pre-finished doors to find the perfect match for your home. Unfinished Doors: The Customisable Option Unfinished doors offer a blank canvas for homeowners who want to add a personal touch to their interiors. These doors come without any applied finish, allowing for complete customisation. Advantages of Unfinished Doors: Unlimited customisation possibilities Ability to match existing décor perfectly Often less expensive initially Can be refinished multiple times Ideal for DIY enthusiasts Disadvantages of Unfinished Doors: Requires additional time and effort to finish Final look depends on DIY skills Need for proper sealing to prevent warping or damage May require periodic refinishing Popular Unfinished Door Options The Mexicana Internal Engineered Primed White Door: Ready for your custom paint finish The London Flat 4P Unfinished Oak Internal Door: Classic oak ready for staining The Clear Pine 4 Panel Internal Door: Versatile pine perfect for painting or staining When to Choose Unfinished Doors Unfinished doors are ideal if you: Want complete control over the final look Enjoy DIY projects Need to match a specific colour or finish in your home Plan to change your home's colour scheme in the future Browse our selection of unfinished doors to start your customisation journey. Comparing Pre-Finished and Unfinished Doors When deciding between pre-finished and unfinished doors, consider the following factors: Time Investment: Pre-finished doors offer immediate installation, while unfinished doors require additional time for finishing. Customisation: Unfinished doors provide unlimited customisation, whereas pre-finished doors have limited options. Skill Level: Pre-finished doors don't require special skills, but unfinished doors may need some DIY expertise. Long-term Flexibility: Unfinished doors can be refinished multiple times, while changing a pre-finished door's appearance is more challenging. Initial Cost vs. Total Cost: Pre-finished doors may have a higher upfront cost but require no additional materials. Unfinished doors are often cheaper initially but require finishing supplies. Comparison Table Factor Pre-Finished Doors Unfinished Doors Installation Time 1-2 hours 1-2 days (including finishing) Customisation Limited Unlimited Skill Required Low Moderate to High Durability High (factory finish) Varies (depends on finish quality) Maintenance Low Moderate Cost Higher upfront, lower total Lower upfront, higher total Expert Tips for Choosing Between Pre-Finished and Unfinished Doors Consider your timeline: If you need doors installed quickly, pre-finished is the way to go. Assess your DIY skills: Be honest about your ability to finish a door to a high standard. Think about your long-term plans: If you like to change your décor frequently, unfinished doors offer more flexibility. Factor in the room's purpose: High-traffic areas might benefit from the durability of pre-finished doors. Consider your budget: Don't forget to factor in the cost of finishing materials for unfinished doors. Frequently Asked Questions Q1: Can I paint over a pre-finished door? A1: While possible, it's not recommended as it may void the warranty and the new finish may not adhere well. Q2: How long does it take to finish an unfinished door? A2: It typically takes 1-2 days, including drying time between coats. Q3: Are pre-finished doors more durable? A3: Generally, yes. Factory-applied finishes are often more durable and consistent than DIY finishes. Q4: Can I match an unfinished door to my existing woodwork? A4: Yes, this is one of the main advantages of unfinished doors. You can stain or paint them to match perfectly. Conclusion Choosing between pre-finished and unfinished doors ultimately depends on your specific needs, skills, and preferences. Pre-finished doors offer convenience and consistency, while unfinished doors provide unlimited customisation options. By considering factors such as installation time, customisation needs, and long-term plans, you can make the best choice for your home. Ready to find your perfect doors? Explore our extensive collection of internal doors or browse our external door options. If you need personalised advice, don't hesitate to contact our expert team for guidance on selecting the ideal doors for your home.

At Internal Doors we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. We ensure that everything we pass on to our customers is of fantastic quality

Today's contemporary constructions are geared towards lightweight development and open floor plans, which may look great, but they tend to amplify soundwaves somewhat. Combine all that with the evolution of personal gadgets

Injured baby sparrow We were overdue a visit to the charity we are supporting at Internal Doors, the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary. Our Marketing Manager Jade once again had a surprise visit from an injured bird, this time an injured baby sparrow was found in a carpark and kindly brought round to her by her neighbour. Jade gave Geoff from the wildlife sanctuary a call and he advised that she needed to feed the bird every half an hour, so after a long night looking after the sweet little sparrow. Jade made her way to the wildlife sanctuary in the morning. The sanctuary are on call 24 hours a day It was a busy day at the Wildlife sanctuary, they had a surprise visit from around 30 school children all wanting to take photos of the wide variety of animals they look care for. The owner Geoff was particularly tired, having been awake since 4am tending to an emergency call. This is a regular occurrence here, the sanctuary is open 24 hours a day to help sick or injured animals. Geoff was not going to have a rest any time soon though, he regularly visits schools and does talks to the children about caring for wildlife, he was due at a talk that afternoon. After the talk he had to accompany the police to a park where children had been caught kicking a wild swan, the police were going to try and catch them in the act and arrest them, Geoff was going along to tend to the poor animal.   Unfortunately days like this are a regular occurrence meaning Geoff and his team of volunteers are stretched to the very limit in terms of time and resources. A high number of emergency calls make it difficult for Geoff to schedule talks with schools and other establishments which are a vital source of funding for the sanctuary.  

The primary reason that fire doors are installed in buildings is, of course, to protect property and more importantly to save lives in the event of a fire.

To most of us, the door is just a gateway devised to protect us from the elements and enable us to be shut away from everything dangerous and unwholesome. Our doors are faithful companions through everything; they’ve seen the ups and downs and they bear the brunt of anger when they’re kicked and slammed. Doors have a lifespan and often need to be replaced, but just because they aren’t up to doing their original job anymore, it doesn’t mean they can’t find another niche elsewhere – after all, who doesn’t love a good upcycling DIY project? Upcycle Ideas.. What could be better than taking something nearing the end of its lifespan and giving it a new lease of life by turning into something that is not only great to look at, but useful too? Door Corner Shelf  This invention is a great display area for social areas such as living rooms and would be great for vases, ornaments or awards to be proudly shown off. It would also be great to store books or in the kitchen for pots and pans or spices. Using an older door can give any room some character with a rustic, period appearance. Coffee Table Door Turning your old door into a coffee table can be a small project or something more extravagant – the choice is all yours. You may wish to seal and paint the door, affix them to a stable block of wood and leave it at that. Others may want to take it a step further and create something with a bit more personality.  Sanding down your old internal doors will give them a new look, and with numerous paints and stains available, you are sure to be able to find the finish you desire.  Door Headboard The bed is the focal point for any bedroom and a uniquely featured headboard can create the finish you’ve been searching for. The doors can be trimmed and moulded in any which way you desire; featuring plinths and shelves. There are a huge array of waxes, varnishes, oils and stains which you can use to give your old doors a complete makeover. However, you choose to design your headboard ensure that it is securely fastened. Mirrored Doors                   One of the easiest and most beautiful ways to transform old internal doors and in fact, an entire room, is to fit mirrors. Mirrored surfaces bring light to a room and create an illusion of space and expanse. There aren’t really any hard and fast rules as to where these doors could go. Whether you’re using it as the door to a wardrobe or to another room, using mirrors will completely transform the whole space for the better. Sliding Doors This is perhaps one of the easiest options we have on our list and is a great choice for absolute maximum impact. The door can be painted and treated in any way you like and can be trimmed down to fit the door frame. Fitting your old doors to sliding rails can bring a very European feel to any room and will add a unique dynamic. Internal sliding doors are becoming much more popular and a more rustic door will embrace the industrial looking rail track rather than trying to conceal it.   Upcycling can be a great way to save money and reinvent your home and even your garden on a budget. Refurbishing furniture can be as expensive or as time-consuming as you make it; your DIY competence will determine how far you wish to go with your projects. Starting a DIY calendar and working on smaller projects and building your way up to bigger pieces is a great way to start upcycling and is a way of saving money and preventing waste. If you’re looking to give your home a little TLC by replacing old doors, don’t hesitate to contact us or visit us at our Hinckley showroom. Information is accurate at time of publishing, however, may be subject to change.

If you’re looking to improve your home and make changes that will make your life just that little bit easier, doesn’t it make sense to put together a very careful plan to keep track of everything, piece-by-piece?

Great interior design works aesthetically as well as practically. You may consider choosing internal doors a fairly insignificant aspect of this process, but the right product can add value to both components of the design: adding substance and a feeling of luxury

If you want to add a new doorway to your property, then you will need to make sure that there is a perfectly aligned frame in place for the door to hang upon. Fitting a door lining is a relatively easy process, and the lining can be used to make sure that the doorway is perfectly shaped and sized so that the door can open and close freely.

Door knobs, handles, hinges and locks - which hardware should I choose for my door? Now you have chosen the perfect door to compliment your home, it’s time to pick out your door furniture and add that all important finishing touch. But with so many styles to choose from, it can be difficult to make a decision and pick out the right furniture to achieve your desired interior look. With plenty of experience in helping people get the finish they really want, we’ve put together a short guide to hopefully point you in the right direction!  With our doors for the most part split into modern and traditional styles, knowing which yours falls under is a major step in the right direction towards choosing the right hardware to accompany it. Door Knobs or Door Levers? Your handles are usually what first catches a person’s eye when using a door so we highly recommend choosing these first selecting the rest of your door hardware to match them. But even before that, you need to decided whether it’s a handle you want to fit or if you’d prefer a slightly more traditional look which will be better achieved by installing door knobs. In addition to the looks offered by both options, there are functional considerations to take into account too. Door Knobs - This timeless door accessory dates as far back as the 17th century. Most styles will suit even the most traditional of doors, yet the sleek simple style will not look out of place on modern doors either. Difficult for children or pets to open, which is a safety feature in itself. They are usually more forgiving if you bump into them and you are less likely to catch your clothing on them. Door Levers - Available in a wide variety of styles from rustic and traditional to contemporary. Door levers are often considered luxurious and upmarket. Usually a better choice for those with limited hand or arm strength. A point to consider is that children and even some persistent pets may be able to open a door with a door lever installed. On the up side, opening a door using a door lever is far easier with your hands full than having to twist a door knob. You also need to keep in mind door levers match the door orientation, so if you have a left or right opening door, ensure your door knobs open the same way. Hinges It is advisable to choose hinges which match the finish of your handles, so if you have chosen brass handles, choose brass hinges too, this will create a seamless, consistent look. Most people prefer to have two hinges per door which will suffice in holding the door securely to the frame, but some like three hinges per door, this is usually for aesthetic reasons. The standard 3” butt hinge is the most popular for the majority of internal doors, although cottage doors such as ledge and brace look better with butterfly,  H or T Hinges. Locks, bolts and turn and releases Some rooms such as a bathroom in some instances a bedroom, may require a lock. There are a variety of options to choose from such as the standard bolt, which sits on the surface of the door, or you may want to choose a latch with a built in lock which is fitted on the mechanism inside the door. This will need to be accompanied by a turn and release on the outside of the door, often considered a better finish than the standard bolt. So whether you have gone for door knobs or handles  for your internal doors we are sure you will make the right decision. Take a look at our entire range of door hardware and accessories here. Information is accurate at time of publishing, however, may be subject to change.

This time we’re taking a look at the crafts geared most toward the language of love.  Almost inevitably, many of these crafts on this list were brought about by Valentine’s Day; those with an aversion to love hearts and the colour pink should consider themselves warned!

Sometimes, no matter how much time or money you’ve spent on decorating a home, something still doesn’t feel right. The worst thing about this is that you know you can’t just go out and keep spending money – after all, no-one has a bottomless pit of the stuff (if you do, please get in touch and we can be friends).

Quick - Cinderella has a ball to get to but the invitation doesn’t say where the palace is! This means we can’t access our pumpkin carriage to take poor Cinderella to her ball, and Prince Charming is waiting for her to arrive. She might not make it before the clock strikes 12 so we need your help!

When decorating our homes, handmade touches can add a real personal feel to our surroundings. They allow us to put our own stamp on things and feel a sense of achievement. There’s nothing better than saying ‘I made that’, especially when friends and family are admiring your décor. However, getting started can be challenging for many of us. Perhaps we don’t see ourselves as creative or dexterous. But.......

Tinned food is widely purchased around the world (what would we do without beans?!), but what do we do with cans once we're done with the product that's inside? More than likely, we throw it away or recycle it. Recycling is a great way to help the environment but why not keep the tin and reuse it as a household item? Here's some great ideas on how to upcycle your tin cans.

Wood is a stunning material that needs to be cared for properly, but is more than worth the effort. Here are 21 bathrooms that have incorporated wood into the design - the results are striking and inspiring!

2015 is now in full swing, and festive excess has long been abandoned in favour of January thrift.  The global DIY community has therefore been looking toward ways to get their lives back into order.  With that in mind, we thought we’d concentrate on the projects which help to get your life and home organised.